Malays (ethnic group)

There is considerable linguistic, cultural, artistic and social diversity among the many Malay subgroups, mainly due to hundreds of years of immigration and assimilation of various regional ethnicity and tribes within Maritime Southeast Asia.

Historically, the Malay population is descended primarily from the earlier Malayic-speaking Austronesians and Austroasiatic tribes who founded several ancient maritime trading states and kingdoms, notably Brunei, Kedah, Langkasuka, Gangga Negara, Chi Tu, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pahang, Melayu and Srivijaya.

[22] Other suggestions include the Javanese word mlayu (as a verb: to run, participle: fugitive), or the Malay term melaju (to steadily accelerate), referring to the high mobility and migratory nature of its people.

The discovery of jetty remains, iron smelting sites, and a clay brick monument dating back to 110 CE in the Bujang Valley, shows that a maritime trading route with South Indian Tamil kingdoms was already established since the second century.

[68] In 1299, through the support of the loyal servants of the empire, the Orang laut, a Malay prince of Palembang origin, Sang Nila Utama established the Kingdom of Singapura in Temasek.

In the late 19th century, Germany sought to establish a naval base in Langkawi, requesting its lease from Siam, influenced by Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz's vision of using the island as a hub for a global submarine cable network.

In October 1899, Behn, Meyer & Co approached Kedah's Crown Prince to lease the island for 50 years, but the plan faltered due to Siam's refusal, as dictated by the Secret Siamese Treaty of 1897, which required British consent for territorial concessions.

[96] A subsequent attempt in 1900 to acquire Pulau Lontar was similarly dismissed, prompting British concerns over potential German expansion in the region and its implications for their economic and political dominance.

The prospect of a German annexation of the northern peninsula and the potential of its involvement for a commercial canal or railway network across the Isthmus of Kra, posed a serious threat to the British economic interest and political dominance in the region.

The treaty nonetheless, manage to seal the fate of the Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis to retain a degree of their sovereign powers under the British colonial government, a legacy that can be witnessed today in the Malaysian administrative system.

The third group was the conservatives consisted of the westernised elites who were bureaucrats and members of royal families that shared a common English education mostly at the exclusive Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

[110] The reversed was seen in the Spanish East Indies, where mass latinisation of the archipelago during the colonial years resulted the historical coup de grâce of the Malay language in the Philippines.

The dialect of Johor Sultanate, the direct successor of Malacca, became the standard speech among Malays in Singapore and Malaysia, and it formed the original basis for the standardised Indonesian language.

[119] The exact date of its composition and the identity of its original author are uncertain, but under the order of Sultan Alauddin Riaayat Shah III of Johor in 1612, Tun Sri Lanang oversaw the editorial and compilation process of the Malay Annals.

Within an area of about 350 square kilometres, 87 early historic religious sites have been reported and there are 12 candis located on mountain tops, a feature which suggests may derive from pre-historic Malay beliefs regarding sanctity of high places.

[135] Another 7th-century account of a special Chinese envoy to Red Earth Kingdom in the Malay Peninsula, recorded that the capital city had three gates more than a hundred paces apart, which were decorated with paintings of Buddhist themes and female spirits.

[130] According to Sejarah Melayu, the building had a raised seven bay structures on wooden pillars with a seven tiered roof in cooper shingles and decorated with gilded spires and Chinese glass mirrors.

[139] Throughout many decades, the traditional Malay architecture has been influenced by Bugis and Java from the south, Siamese, British, Arab and Indian from the north, Portuguese, Dutch, Aceh and Minangkabau from the west and Southern Chinese from the east.

A smaller version of the Belanga is called periok, used for rice-preparation; The Buyong, commonly defined by a straight collar and a spherical body, oftentime used as a water jar; The Terenang, the angular Terenang is used as a canister, especially in the coastal Malay regions of Kelantan, Patani and Terengganu; The Bekas Bara, a small container, usually crafted for the use of incense; The Jambangan, a traditional Malay vase, usually for aesthetic purposes and Geluk, a small water storage.

Various meats and vegetables could be made into Gulai or Kari, a type of curry dish with variations of spices mixtures that clearly display Indian influence already adopted by Malay people since ancient times.

Its orchestra includes the sacred and highly revered instruments of nehara (kettledrums), gendang (double-headed drums), nafiri (trumpet), serunai (oboe), and sometimes a knobbed gong and a pair of cymbals.

The common era however, witnessing the early arrivals the merchants from east and west to the harbours of Malay Archipelago, together they bought new luxurious items, including fine cotton and silks.

The garments subsequently become a source of high Malay fashion and acquired a cultural role as the binding identity in the archipelago, especially in the peninsula, Sumatra and the coastal areas of Borneo.

The interpretation was then absorbed to the Malay way of dressing and cultural perspective, this can be strongly witnessed upon the rule of Mansur Shah of Malacca in the 15th century, the sultan prohibited his female Muslim subjects in the public from wearing only a sarong from the bust downwards.

Due to the vastness of various Malay kingdoms in the archipelago, local and distinct forms of the Baju Kurung design patterns can also be witnessed in the region, including Bengkulu, Kedah, Jambi, Johor-Riau, Pahang and Palembang.

For the Malay nobles during this period, the works of pending (ornamental Belt buckle embellished with precious stones), keronsang (brooch) and cucuk sanggul (hairpins) were staged to become among the most sought item of fashion.

The era also hosted a number of other prominent items in the Malay regalia cast in gold, including ceremonial box, Tepak sirih (Betel container) and parts of Keris.

The common traditional Malay items usually made of silver include pillow ends, belt buckles, matt corners, stoppers for water vessels, Keris sheaths and tobacco boxes.

Additionally, other prominent traditional Malay items made from metal includes flower vases, perfume sprinkles, serving trays, cooking pots, kettle and incense burners.

[173] The spiritual approach is usually held every Malam Jumaat (Thursday night), with the blade is being purified with lime and smoked with incense, dedicated prayers and devoted mantras would be also recited upon to complement the mystic ritual.

Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds in Jambi , historically linked to the pre-Islamic Melayu Kingdom . The Melayu-Srivijayans were known to construct complex building system in its capital, major cities and important urban centres.
Bukit Seguntang in Palembang . According to Sejarah Melayu , the hill recorded the advent of Sang Sapurba , a legendary progenitor for various Malay royal houses in Sumatra, Malay Peninsula and Borneo.
A group of men from Brunei Darussalam in the Cekak Musang type, worn together with the songket (far left) and kain sarong
Ladies from Palembang clad in their traditional attire, known as Baju Kurung made from Songket . The dress is commonly associated with women of Malay extraction.
Chedi Phra Borommathat , a stupa located in Nakhon Si Thammarat , Thailand . The temple witnessed the rise and fall of Tambralinga , a powerful Buddhist kingdom that managed to conquer Jaffna kingdom in Sri Lanka .
The timeline of Srivijayan expansion from Palembang between the 7th–13th century; the state would subsequently be known as Melayu Kingdom before its demise. By the 14th century, a Palembangese-born prince, Parameswara , would later establish the Kingdom of Malacca , bringing the old Palembangese courts traditions and identity into the newfound state.
The "Dayak-Malay" brotherhood monument in West Kalimantan Provincial Museum, Pontianak , Indonesia
The extent of the Malaccan Sultanate in the 15th century, the legacy of the Malaccan court can be strongly witnessed in the construction of the Malay sociocultural framework until today.
The reigning elite of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate in 1867, predominantly of Bugis-Malay descent. The sultanate would be abolished almost half a century later in 1911 by the Dutch powers, following its strong independence movement against the colonial government .
Tuan Lebeh (seated, in the middle), the Long Raya or Raja Muda ( crown prince ) of the Kingdom of Reman in 1899. The State of Reman was abolished by the Rattanakosin Kingdom alongside various other Malay kingdoms that revolted for independence in the early 1902 including Pattani , Saiburi, Nongchik, Yaring, Yala, Legeh and Teluban.
Scene from the Castilian War (1578–1580) as Brunei defended its sovereignty against European expansion
The Malay Rulers and nobilities of Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor with British colonial officers during the first Durbar in Istana Negara, Kuala Kangsar , Perak , Federated Malay States , 1897
The bronze mural of the legendary Malay warrior, Hang Tuah with his renowned quote Ta' Melayu Hilang Di-Dunia ( Malay for "Never shall the Malays vanish from the face of the earth") written on the top. The quote is a famous rallying cry for Malay nationalism . [ 97 ] [ 98 ]
Federation of Malaya's commemorative stamp issued in 1957. The semi-independent federation was formed in 1948 from nine Malay states and two British Straits Settlements . It achieved independence in 1957.
The Kedukan Bukit Inscription written in Pallava script . Dating back from 683, it is one of the oldest surviving Malay written artefact.
Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa in Jawi text. Also known as the Kedah Annals, it is an ancient Malay literature that chronicles the bloodline of Merong Mahawangsa and the foundation of Kedah .
A Kelantan-Patani styled Wayang Kulit ( Shadow play ) that narrated the heroic tale of Hikayat Seri Rama
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in Brunei on the eve of Ramadhan . The wealthy kingdom adopted Melayu Islam Beraja ( Malay Islamic Monarchy ) as the national philosophy since its independence in 1984.
Replica of the Malacca Sultanate 's Palace, which was built from information and data obtained from the Malay Annals . This historical document had references to the construction and the architecture of palaces during the era of Sultan Mansur Shah , who ruled from 1458 to 1477.
A wall panel adorned with various floral motives from the Setul Mambang Segara palatial residence as seen in the Muzium Negara . Setul was a historical Malay kingdom that existed between 1808 and 1915 in the northern Malay Peninsula.
Burung Petala Indra , a giant mythical bird constructed for the grand circumcision parade of the Kelantanese prince
An ebony-coloured Labu Sayong , a classic Malay jar from Kuala Kangsar , Perak , Malaysia
Itik Masak Lomak Cili Api , smoked duck with thick, creamy, savoury and spicy sauce, usually eaten with white rice .
A troupe of Siamese Malay dancers performing the Mak Yong (c. 19th century). In 2005, it received recognition as being among the masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO .
Malay children wearing traditional dress during Eid al-Fitr
Rows of Pelita ( oil lamps ) lighted during Malam Tujuh Likur (the 27th night of Ramadhan ), the oil lamps are traditionally used to illuminate homes and the streets during the Ramadhan. Seen here in Muar , Johor, Malaysia.
The coronation ceremony between Tengku Otteman, as the Tengku Mahkota (Crown Prince) of Deli Sultanate , Dutch East Indies ; with his wife, Raja Amnah, a member of Perak Royalty as Tengku Puan Indera in 1925
A female silat practitioner from Singapore
The Bunga Mas , National Museum of Malaysia . The Bunga Mas was offered by the northern Malay states of Terengganu , Kelantan , Kedah , Pattani , Nong Chik , Yala , Rangae , Kubang Pasu and Setul to the King of Ayutthaya ( Siam ) as a symbol of allegiance.
A Malay Keris, with its sheath on the left. This particular dagger was historically belonged to a Malay aristocrat from Sumatra .
The trigger mechanism of an Istinggar , a classical Malay matchlock gun as displayed in Muzium Warisan Melayu ( Malay Heritage Museum ), Serdang , Selangor
A Wau -maker's workshop in Kelantan , Malaysia. This peculiar type of kite can be found in the northeast coast of the Malay Peninsula.
The realm of Malays is depicted in green and other related sub-ethnic groups are rendered in darker or lighter green.